1.My Mother Study Material

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MY MOTHER

-APJ ABDUL KALAM

ANNOTATIONS

a)Such was the Indian concept of hospitality once upon a time,

Introduction:

 This line is taken from the narrative essay My Mother writy AP Kalam Kalam the missile man and former President of India, is a greatly admited personality He man of letters and a voracious reader of books The essay is an extract from his book My Journey. t portrays the devotion and love with which Kalam's mother served the family

Context:

Kalam was all praises for the rare attributes of his mother She was an embodiment of virtues

Explanation:

Kalam grew up in an extended middle class joint family in Rameswaram. His grandparents, uncles and their families too lived in the same house. Guests dropped in every day and had their meals. The money earned by Kalam's father was just enough to take care of basic needs. Kalam's mother, however, never complained. Though she had to cook large quantities of food and serve several people, she never expressed anger or irritation. She felt it was her duty to take care of the family and guests.

Critical Comment:

The spirit of Indianness reflexes in every walk of Kalam's life. Honouring guests was an accepted Indian custom in those days. This is a case in the point.

b) What a lesson that was for me to never forget the needs of those around me!

Introduction:

This line is taken from the narrative essay My Mother', written by A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Kalam, the 'missile man' and former President of India, is a greatly admired personality. He is a man of letters and a voracious reader of books. The essay is an extract from his "My Journey." It portrays the devotion and love with which Kalam's mother served the family.

Context:

Kalam was all praises for the rare attributes of his mother. She was an embodiment of virtues. Relating his experiences Kalam cites the above lines.

Explanation:

Sharing, living and experiencing were the rare qualities, Kalam learnt over a period of time from his parents and grandparents. The members of the family knew how to live with meagre resources. Whenever there was a scarcity of resources they started eating to the heart's content but not to the stomach's. One day, boy Kalam ignorantly ate more chapattis than he usually does, leaving his mother starve without food. His elder brother made him realize his mistake. For the first time, the innate feelings brought out the human being in him. 

Critical Comment:

The maxim "Tears should well in your eyes when your fellow being suffers" is driven home in this episode.

c) Her fingers ran tenderly through my hair, comforting, soothing and understanding.

Introduction:

This line is taken from the narrative essay 'My Mother', written by A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Kalam, the 'missile man and former President of India,, is a greatly admired personality. He is a man of letters and a voracious reader of books. The essay is an extract from his "My Journey." It portrays the devotion and love with which Kalam's mother served the family. 

Context:

Kalam was all praises for the rare attributes of his mother. She was an embodiment of virtues.

Explanation: 

Kalam was the most intimate child to his mother of all his siblings. He extolled that mother's touch had a therapeutic purpose. It can give one a celestial bliss. He grew nostalgic narrating his past happy days in his mother's lap. When he rested his head in her lap, tears spring off in his heart and seeps into her sari. She understood that her son was evolving into a man, who had a tender heart,feelings for others

Critical Comment: 

The reassuring touch given by his mother and the heart rending narration of this prose piece leaves an impressionable impact on the reader’s mind.

d)Now it is a sweet reminder of a beautiful childhood, of parents lost to time, of a mother who understood her boy's deepest feelings, even if they remained buried in his heart.

Introduction:

This line is taken from the narrative essay My Mother', written by A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Kalam, the 'missile man' and former President of India, is a greatly admired personality. He is a man of letters and a voracious reader of books. The essay is an extract from his "My Journey." It portrays the devotion and love with which Kalam's mother served the family.

Context:

Kalam was all praises for the rare attributes of his mother. She was an embodiment of virtues. 

Explanation:

These are the concluding lines of the lesson. As a profound philosopher we find him putting bare the facts of life. As a man on mission being relentless in his pursuit of learning from his parents, moulded his personality. He finds an intimate and ideal help-mate, to his father in his mother. He condoles for having lost his mother, a mentor and a beacon-lamp to his life. Whenever he goes down his memory lane he finds the Azaan from the mosque once use to bring all the children of his family together.

Critical Comment: Kalam's insight into human life and inter-personal relationships is very clear in these lines. He appears to have reached his 'target' in his finer aspect as well.

QUESTION and ANSWERS

1.Kalam says, "My mother was a gentle, down-to-earth, pious woman." Elaborate with the information provided in My Mother'.

A-  Kalam is an illustrious son of mother India. He served in various capacities, as an academician, scientist and administrator. He was a prolific writer. His works mark his stretch of imagination. This is taken from the lesson My Mother' an excerpt from My Journey.

                      Kalam gave a touching account of the close relationship, he shared with his mother. Kalam'smother, Ashiamma, devoted her life to the service of the family. Their's was a middle class joint family. The money earned by Kalam's father was hardly enough to meet the needs of their big family. Kalam's mother cooked daily for the large extended family and she patiently served the numerous guests who came to their house to eat. She was in good vibes with her family. Often, she gave away her share of food to Kalam. She was a devout Muslim who followed all religious practices faithfully. She was noble, selfless and simple lady. She was a loving person who served the family and God with total commitment.

2.Narrate two memories of Kalam, related to eating.

A.Kalam is an illustrious son of mother India, He served in various capacities, as an academician, scientist and administrator. He was a prolific writer. His works mark his stretch of imagination. This is taken from the lesson 'My mother' an excerpt from 'My Journey.

                                                       One of my earliest memories is of eating with my mother, sitting on the kitchen floor. Kalam's second memory was that one day his Mother had made Chapattis instead of rice. He affirms that the food she cooked was deceptively sim0ple and palatable. He ate away even her share of food rendering his mother sleep without morsel in her mouth. Kalam gave the compatible quality of his mother. He was very much aware of the fact that she would give away her share. On asking, his mother gently played down saying that he was a man in the making and he needs extra strength for the strenuous task of his life.

3)As an eight year old boy, Kalam took the job of a newspaper delivery boy. Explain the reasons in a paragraph. 

A:Kalam is an illustrious son of mother India. He served in various capacities, as an academician, scientist and administrator. He was a prolific writer. His works marked his stretch of imagination. This is taken from the lesson 'My mother' an excerpt from ‘My Journey.

               Kalam imbibed the noble impulses of helping others from his parents. He was very quick and responding to the needs of his family at the age of eight. He took to the job of a newspaper delivery boy. He saw his mother and grandmother stretching the supplies as much as they could. They were trying to make all the members feel satiated. His father's business gave steady income. It was enough to live a life of dignity but not indulge in luxuries. He realized this earlier and started contributing his turn.

4)*.......... the man whose side she (Kalam's mother) had never left for over eighty years. Who was 'the man'? Show how she was an ideal partner to Kalam's father.

A.Kalam is an illustrious son of mother India. He served in various capacities, as an academician, scientist and administrator. He was a prolific writer. His works marked his stretch of imagination. This is taken from the lesson My mother' an excerpt from 'My Journey'.

                 Kalam grew up in an institutionalized family with high moral and ethics. He saw in his mother an ideal partner to his father, always in harmony. After his father's death, she could not bear the parting of her husband. She was in his association for eighty years. She had struck by his father in thick and thin of his life. She strengthened his every effort standing by him. She never showed anger and irritation despite long hours of her work. As a pious and scrupulous lady she dedicated her life for the sake of her family.

Grammar

1.3 Look at the following transcriptions. Write the words In normal spelling

(1) (ri’member)/ (ii) /bıznis/

(iii) Mlaklari (iv)/’ene(r)dzi/

(v) /stedi/

Ans.

(i) remember (ii) business

(iii) luxury (iv) energy

(v) steady          (vii) connection

1.4 Look at the following words. Underline the word that sounds different with regard to the       sound of the bold letters. The first one is done for you.

Centre     class          come

Beside business        consist

Govern growing        gentle

Like        live            limit

Such        much      epoch

Face        family      wake

Ans.

Centre     class          come

Beside business        consist

Govern Growing        gentle

Like        live            limit

Such        much      epoch

Face        family      wake 

1.5 Mention the Number of Syllables in each of the following words.

i. Business

ii. Memory

iii. Family

iv. Tuition

v. Quietly

vi. Plous

Ans.

i. Busi-ness = 2

ii. Me-mo-ry = 3

iii. Fa-mi-ly = 3

iv. Tui-tion = 2

v. Quiet-ly =2

vi. Pi-ous =2

1.6 Match the words in column A with their meanings in Column B

 Ans:

i. j

ii. f

iii. g

iv. i

v. c

vi. h

vii. a

viii. e

ix. b

x. d

1.7 Fill in the blanks with 'a', 'an' or 'the'.

My growing up years are suffused with ________memory of Rameswaram, and __________two people who were _________centre of my world then - my father and mother. Ours was ___________middle-class family. My father had his own small business besides being ________imam of ________mosque. My mother, Ashiamma, came from _______ family, one of whom had some time in_______ past been given _______ title of "Bahadur" by  _______ British.

Ans.

My growing up years are suffused with the memory of Rameswaram, and the two people who were the centre of my world then - my father and mother. Ours was a middle-class family. My father had his own small business besides being the imam of the mosque. My mother, Ashiamma, came from a family, one of whom had some time in the past been given the title of "Bahadur" by the British.

1.8 Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

(a) I came home_______my work___________ Thumba and sat__my mother_____a long time. When I had to leave, she blessed me _______a choked voice.

(b) I should not have been so preoccupied ______  my work.

(c) My father lived _______the age of______102.

(d) After I received the news ____ her passing away, as her assailed me.as I made my way_____ Rameswaram, memories____her assailed me.

Ans.

(a) I came home from my work at Thumba and sat by my mother for a long time. When I had to leave, she blessed me with a choked voice.

(b) I should not have been so preoccupied with my work.

(C) My father lived to the age of 102. 

(d) After I received the news of her passing away, as I made my way to Rameswaram, memories of her assailed me.

1.9Fill in the blanks with suitable forms of the verbs given in brackets. 

(a) One day, my mother had made chapattis instead of rice. I ____ (sit) at my place on the floor and ____ (eat) with relish as she ______ (roll) out one fresh chapatti after another. 

(b) Mothers always ______ (love) children unconditionally. _____ children________ (respond) in the same way? How will you ________ (treat) your mother in her old age?

Ans.

(a) One day, my mother had made chapattis instead of rice. I sat at my place on the floor and ate with relish as she rolled out one fresh chapatti after another.

(b) Mothers always love children unconditionally. Do children respond in the same way? How will you treat your mother in her old age?

1.10 Rewrite the following sentences as directed.

(i) Kalam's brother said to Kalam, "Amma will never say no to you". (Change into indirect speech)

(ii) Mother once said to me, "You are a growing child". (Change into indirect speech)

(iii) They moulded my personality and thoughts. (Change the voice of the verb)

(iv) Food was being rationed by the authorities. (Change the voice of the verb)

(v) Ashiamma was a devout Muslim. (Add a question tag)

(vi) No other woman in our family was as caring as our mother. (Change the adjective into the comparative degree)

Ans.

      (i)Kalam's brother told Kalam that Amma would never say no to him.

(ii) Mother once told me that I was a growing child.

(iii) My personality and thoughts were moulded by them.

(iv) The authorities were rationing food.

(v) Wasn't she?

(vi) Our mother was more caring than any other woman in our family.

1.11 Rewrite the following sentences correcting the errors.

(i) At first I had no idea why I am being pulled up.

(ii) Then I was about eight years.

(iii) I asked myself why should I have done so.

(iv) When I returned back home, I was hungry and tired.

(v) I had left home fairly early in life.

(vi) One of my earliest memory is of eating with mother.

Ans.

 (i)At first I had no idea why I was being pulled up. 

(ii) Then, I was about eight years old.

(iii) I asked myself why I should have done so.

(iv) When I returned home, I was hungry and tired.

(v) I left home fairly early in life.

(vi) One of my earliest memories is of eating with mother.

1.12 Supply the missing letters in the following words.

(i) mi_ _le    (ii)p_ _ceful                            

(iii) t_ _tion (iv)su_ _enly

(v) a_ _airs (vi) car_ _r

(vii)rec_ _ve (viii) qu_ _tly

(ix) kit_ _en (x) en_ _gh

(i) middle    (ii)peaceful                            

(iii) tuition (iv)suddenly

(v) affairs (vi) career

(vii)receive (viii) quietly

(ix) kitchen (x) enough

1.13 Underline the silent consonants in the following words.

(1) soften (ii)balm 

(iii) knees (iv) night

(v) thought (vi) show 

(vii) dawn (vill) hour

(ix) eighty (x)news

(1) soften (ii)balm 

(iii) knees (iv) night

(v) thought (vi) show 

(vii) dawn (viii) hour

(ix) eighty (x)news

1.15 Punctuation 

1.15.1 Fun with punctuation

My mother said, 'Govind is lazy'. Make 'my mother' lazy by changing punctuation marks.

Ans.

"My mother" said Govind "is lazy".

1.15.2 Use punctuation marks and capital letters wherever necessary in the following

sentences. 

(i) my mother ashiamma came from a family one of whom had some time in the past been given the title of bahadur by the british

(ii) she never once asked me to stay back should I have done so should I not have been so preoccupied with my work and instead spent time with this old lady who i was never to see again

(i)My mother, Ashiamma, came from a family, one of whom had some time in the past been given the title of "Bahadur" by the British. 

(ii) She never once asked me to stay back. Should I have done so? Should I not have been so preoccupied with my work, and instead spent time with this old lady, who I was never to see again?

1.17 Comprehension Passages 1.17.1 Read the passage given below.

 Answer the questions that follow.

A man went to a flower shop to order some flowers to be sent to his mother who A lived 200 miles away. There he noticed a young girl crying. On being asked, the girl said, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother. But I have only 75 cents and a rose costs 2 dollars." The man smiled and said, "Come on, I will buy you a rose." He bought the little girl a rose and ordered his own mother's flowers. Then he offered to drop the girl home. She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother." She directed him

to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave. The man returned to the flower shop, canceled his order, picked up a bouquet, and drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house! - from "The Holiday Spot"- web

() Why did the man go to a flower shop?

(ii) Why was the little girl crying?

(iii) The man was kind natured. Say true or false.

(iv) Was the little girl's mother alive? 

(v) Why did the man cancel his order?

(vi) The little girl's act helped the man realize what he should do for his mother.

Write true or false.

Ans.

(i) The man went to a flower shop to order some flowers to be sent to his mother who lived 200 miles away.

(ii) The little girl was crying because she did not have enough money to buy a red rose for her mother. She had only 75 cents and the red rose cost 2 dollars. That was the girl's problem.

(iii) True.

(iv) No, the little girl's mother was dead and buried.

(v) When the man saw the grave of that child's mother, he returned to the flower and cancelled order.

(vi) True.

1.17.2 Read the passage given below. Answer the questions that follow.

Male and female parenting roles are not as clear as they once were. Although the gap has narrowed, mothers still spend more time with children and working on domestic tasks than fathers do. However, increasingly, fathers are now involved in many aspects of child care, and today, you can see fathers doing lots of things that once were considered the work of mother-changing diapers, taking children to school and daycare, and even looking after children while their partner is at work. At the same time, more mothers are spending more time in the traditionally male domain of work outside the home. A growing phenomenon that is gaining popularity is off-shifting, where mothers and fathers stagger their work time so as to be able to keep at least one parent at home caring for children while having the benefits of a second income.

(i)In general, which parent spends more time on domestic tasks even now? 

(ii) Name any two tasks related to child care in which fathers are getting involved. 

(iii) More mothers are working outside their homes now than in the past. Say true or false.

(iv) The staggering of work time so that at least one parent is able to stay at home is called___

(v) The author suggests that

(Choose the best answer)

(a) parents should leave children in daycare centers. 

(b) parenting roles are not as clearly differentiated as they used to be.

(c) mothers should go to work and fathers should stay at home.

(vi) Write the synonym of "advantage".

Ans.

(i) Mothers spend more time on domestic tasks.

(ii) Changing diapers, taking children to school are the two tasks done by fathers.

(iii) true

(iv) off-shifting

(v) (b) parenting roles are not as clearly differentiated as they used to be.

(vi) "merit"

1.18 You are interested in cricket. You want to go for coaching. Your father refuses permission. Write a dialogue on how your mother convinced your father in this regard.

Ravi: Daddy! I have a request to make.

Dad: Yes, tell me, my son!

Ravi: Dad, you know that I am interested in the game of cricket. I want to go for coaching during the summer vacation, say about 50 to 60 days. Will you, please permit me?

Dad: No, I won't permit you. You are now going to be in the 10th class. So, you have to prepare for the next academic year. So, there is no question of your going for cricket coaching. You are already weak in Mathematics and Science. So, during this vacation, I want you to go for special coaching in Mathematics and Science.

Ravi: Daddy, I will study well next year. Please send me for cricket coaching this vacation. Mom, please tell dad and convince him.

Mother: Please permit him to go for coaching during the vacation. He wants to improve his talent in cricket. Maybe, tomorrow, he might become another Sachin Tendulkar.

Dad: (Laughs) Another Sachin Tendulkar! No, no, I can't believe it. 

Mother: Please allow him to go this time. If he does not do well in school, you can stop him from playing cricket.

Dad: Alright! Let him go. Ravi, you can go for coaching since your mother wants you to become another Sachin.

Ravi: Thank you, dad. Don't fool me. I will definitely become another Sachin